"To Grandma With Love"

On January 13, 2015, a precious lady by the name of Annie Laurie Henderson, passed away.  She was 92-years-old.  She is survived by three children, six grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and a host of people who loved her dearly.

One of the nine great-grandchildren, Mallory, age 14, asked to speak at Ms. Annie Laurie’s funeral.  What would a great-grandchild separated by 78 years in age have to say about her aged great-grandmother? 

She had some wonderful things to say!

She spoke about how much her great-grandmother meant to her.  She mentioned some fond memories of:

• listening to Englebert Humperdink and dancing together,

• playing Boggle,

• conversations about life “in general.”

She also spoke of the lessons that she learned from her great-grandmother.  Here is some of what she said:

“Grandma Henderson was the sweetest and most religious woman I have ever met. She devoted herself to God 100%.  One day she told me a story about her wedding day and how when she wore her white dress; it was pure and true.  She stayed true to God and for that, she had no shame or regrets on her wedding day.  That really sunk in with me.  It made me want to be just like her and stay true to God also, so that on my wedding day I will be wearing white because I was pure and true to God.”

Can a 92-year-old woman have an impact on a teenager?  Mallory says, “Yes!”  That is extremely significant when it comes to learning life’s most important lessons, like living for God.

The Apostle Paul was thankful for the mother and grandmother of his co-worker, Timothy.  He wrote: “ I thank God … when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also” (2 Timothy 1:3-5).  Paul told Timothy that he “must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, ¹⁵ and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus”
(2 Timothy 3:14-15).

Thank God for mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers – like Eunice, Lois, and Annie Laurie – who teach their children and grandchildren about God and His will for their lives.

Thank God for men and women who love their children, grandchildren, and others so much that they tell them about the love of the Heavenly Father and how He gave His Son to die on the cross for our sins (John 3:16).

Thank God for the elderly who will teach the younger how to respond to what Jesus did for us on the cross by placing their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turning from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confessing Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and being baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).

Thank God for members of the older generations who take the time to teach younger generations about the importance of remaining faithful to the Lord throughout our lives (1 John 1:7; Revelation 2:10).

Perhaps YOU also have been influenced by godly mother, father, grandmother, or even a great-grandmother!

Won’t YOU allow those influences to motivate you to accept God’s offer of salvation and eternal life?

You will be so glad that you did.  And you’ll always be thankful for those who have helped teach you about God... just ask Mallory!